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EBT cards fail in 17 states including Louisiana

A spokesperson for Xerox, the vendor who services the card system, said connectivity issues still persist even though the problem had been fixed.

Updated: 6:03 PM CDT Oct 12, 2013

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EBT cards fail in 17 states including Louisiana

A spokesperson for Xerox, the vendor who services the card system, said connectivity issues still persist even though the problem had been fixed.

Updated: 6:03 PM CDT Oct 12, 2013

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EBT cards fail in 17 states including Louisiana

A spokesperson for Xerox, the vendor who services the card system, said connectivity issues still persist even though the problem had been fixed.

Updated: 6:03 PM CDT Oct 12, 2013

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Link copied!

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WEBVTT STATE'S FOOD STAMP PROGRAM SAYTHEY CAN'T BUY FOOD BECAUSETHEIR CARDS AREN'T WORKING. MANYFEARED IT WAS ARESULT OF THE GOVERNMENTSHUTDOWN BUT THANKFULLY, IT'SNOT. WDSU REPORTER CASEYFERRAND IS LIVE IN STUDIO TOTELLUS WHAT'S BEHIND THE PROBLEM ANDWHEN CARDS WILL BE WORKINGAGAIN.RACHEL, THIS WAS A WIDESPREADPROBLEM... AFFECTING E-B-TUSERS IN 17 STATES. AROUND 11:00THIS MORNING OURNEWSROOM TOOK NUMEROUS CALLS ANDRECEIVED SEVERAL EMAILSFROM VIEWERS HAVING ISSUES...MOST ASSUMED THE CARDSWEREN'T WORKING DUE TO THEGOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.TURNS OUT IT WAS AS ISSUE WITHTHE VENDOR FOR THE CARDS.AT WINN DIXIE IN MID CITY...MANAGERS SAID AT ONE POINTTHEIR WERE 26 BASKETS LINED UPAT THE FRONT OF THE STORE...FILLED WITH GROCERIES... AFTERCUSTOMERS WEREUNABLE TO MAKE THEIR PURCHASESUSING THE EBT CARDS. WINN DIXIEWAS ONE OF THE ONLY RETAILERS TOCONTINUE ACCEPTINGBENEFITS AFTER THE SYSTEMSHUTDOWN BUT HAS SINCESTOPPED BECAUSE OF THEWIDESPREAD ISSUE. ASPOKESPERSON WITH XEROX... THEVENDOR FOR EBT CARDS... SAYS THEELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFERSYSTEM EXPERIENCED ATEMPORARY SHUTDOWN THIS MORNING.SHE SAYS WHILE THESYSTEM IS NOW UP AND RUNNING,BENEFICIARIES IN 17 AFFECTEDSTATES CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCECONNECTIVITY ISSUES TO ACCESSTHEIR BENEFITS. THIS DISRUPTIONIMPACTS EBT BENEFICIARIESWHO RELY ON THE SYSTEM FOR SNAPAND WIC.People are definitely frustratedwith the whole issue. Some havebeen understanding, some havenot been understanding. Andthere are so many rumors thatthis has to do with thegovernment shutdown thatthat's really what's upsettingpeople the most.XEROX SAYS TECHNICAL STAFF ISADDRESSING THE ISSUE ANDEXPECT THE SYSTEM TO BE RESTOREDSOON.OTHER THAN LOUISIANA ... 16SATES WERE IMPACTED BYTODAY'S E-B-T SHUTDOWN...INCLUDING PENNSYLVAINA, NEWJERSEY, MISSISSIPPI, MICHAGAN,TEXAS AND ALABAMA.THANKS TO YOU, OUR VIEWERS...